Government Operations Committee on March 22nd, 2010

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

I'm hearing a maybe, Minister. I'm not hearing a definite.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

No, no, I'm definitely saying that moves ahead net of the G-8 and the G-20.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

So the extra $13 million that they're receiving, they'll get that reduced after next year?

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

I'll have to ask them to come forward with all their spending estimates, but I'm just telling you that when there are situations that are bona fide extraordinary or special situations, like the G-8 or the G-20--I don't know when we'll be hosting that again.... They won't be able to come forward next year and say, “You know, those costs, that extra money we needed for the G-8 and the G-20, we're just going to have to hang on to that.” No they won't. It will be reduced.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

But you're saying.... You didn't say that in your comments. You were saying that the Prime Minister--you know, I'm kind of paraphrasing--has extraordinary responsibilities and he has to fly around, he has to do all these other things. That's fine, but let's not play around here. It's not just for the G-20 and the G-8. The extra increases that this office will be getting will be different from all the other offices, and if I'm someone who's a public servant and I'm sitting there watching the glasses overflowing for one office and I'm told to reduce mine right now.... You can see where there's a problem, particularly if I'm providing services to Canadians.

Can you see that as a problem in terms of the perception of the government providing more for one office and telling everyone else to do more with less?

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

To clarify, all ministries are being told that their spending is going to be frozen at 2010-11 levels. So we're not talking about reducing them. Now, if I can--

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Well, a lot of them are being reduced.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

If I can continue along that particular line, every department, certainly including PCO, has to justify its expenses--

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

No question.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

--has to bring them forward, and if there is going to be--and I'm saying this because it would apply to any department--an increase that is necessary because of extraordinary circumstances beyond everybody's control, they can bring that request forward. I think that's only reasonable. I'm not saying that to invite a deluge of requests right off the bat. I'm saying--

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

If I may--

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

--I'm saying Canadians are serious about wanting to see the deficit going down and a balanced budget, and we are moving in that direction. Extraordinary situations will always be given some consideration.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

One thing I can offer you as a suggestion, and we've tabled a motion to this effect today, Minister, and it may get support and you can talk to your colleagues about it, is in the estimates there's an amount of $129 million...you can take a look at the idea we've put forward to reduce that by about $4 million. The rationale is the promotion for the government's tax credit campaign, which was I think fairly roundly and soundly critiqued as being very promotional of the government. That could be a way to save some money.

What we're proposing is that we remove about $4 million from that line item. I think your party's coffers are fairly robust and they could probably absorb that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Dewar, you'll have to end your question, quickly.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Certainly.

I'm just looking for your support, Minister, for this motion to remove $4 million from the Privy Council promoting the government's program, which has been soundly critiqued, pushing people to Conservative Party videos, etc. I would look to your support for that. I would think you'd be sending the right message to bureaucrats who are having to do more with less--

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you, Mr. Dewar.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

--and maybe take some from the Conservative Party.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Minister, your turn to answer.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

First of all, I'll open my remarks and I'll echo those by saying we sincerely consider all input. So I will take this back and have a good discussion with my colleagues. In question period today I did some comparisons, and I'm not justifying our spending; I wouldn't look to the previous Liberal government, and I'm sure you wouldn't, Paul--

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

No.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

--and say, “There's a good comparison”. In the year 2002-03, in their government advertising program, it was about $111 million; ours last year was $89 million. You mentioned people have been criticizing. There will always be people who criticize what a government does. I think when we're talking about letting people know how to qualify for the home renovation tax credit and other--

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay, thank you, Minister.

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

--tax issues, which can be very complicated, it's good to get that message out there; talking about how to apply to the armed forces--

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

The Prime Minister singing “Let it be”. Come on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you. I have to cut this conversation and go to the second round.

Five minutes now, Madam Martha Hall Findlay.